Apparatus for applying sticky strand material to articles



c. c. MOCAIN Jan. 19, 1954. 2,666,591

STICKY STRAND MATERIAL TO ARTICLES 3 SheetsSheet 1 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING Filed May 7, 1951 INVENTORY C. 0. Mc I N FIG.2

ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1954 c. c. M CAIN 2,666,591

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING STICKY'STRAND MATERIAL TO ARTICLES Filed May 7, 1951 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 F|G.5 v '50 I r. I I35 INVENTOR. -l 0.0. M cCAlN By W ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1954 ac. M CAIN 2,6 66,591

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING STICKY STRAND MATERIAL. T0 ARTICLES Filed May 7, 1951 s Sheets-Shae 5 FIGS 36 15 INVENTOR. C. C. M c C A IN ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15?, 1954 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING STICKY STRAND MATERIAL TO ARTICLES Cecil 0. McCain, Glen Ellyn, 111., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 7, 1951, Serial No. 224,858

Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for applying sticky strand material to articles and more particularly to a device for Winding a strand impregnated with a sticky compound around annular magnet parts to form aseal between the parts.

In the manufacture of a certain type of telephone transmitters an annular magnet is used which is made from two annular flanged magnet parts with their flanges spot welded together. The annular magnet is fabricated with other elements into an acoustical'chamber into which the sound waves are admitted through a restricted opening. In order to insure that there are no interstices between the welded flanges of the two magnet parts through which sound waves may pass, a sealing compound is applied in the groove formed where the magnet parts are welded together. The sealing element is in the form of a strand coated with a sticky sealing compound. Because the sticky compound adheres to anything that it comes in contact with, the application of the strand to the magnet presents various problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple apparatus for applying sticky strand material to articles.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention an apparatus is provided having a pair of spindles, each provided with a seat for supporting the annular magnets to which the compound ooated strand is to be applied. The spindles are mounted diametrically opposite each other in a rotatable disc and equi-distant from the axis thereof for rotation about their own axes and for revolving movement about the axis of the disc. Drive means is provided to intermittently revolve or index the disc-through 180 and to rotate the spindles and the articles carried thereby about their: own axes through at "least two and one-half complete revolutions for each indexing movement. -A reel of strand coated with tacky sealing compound is adjustably supported to allow the end thereof to be withdrawn from the reel in a horizontal plane and pressed into adhering engagement with the walls of the annular groove in one of the magnets on one of the spindles. An unsealed second magnet is applied to the other spindle and the disc I Y is indexed to cause the magnets to be revolved through to carry the second magnet into engagement with an intermediate portion of the 'sticky'strandand-to cause the-first part to wind two and one-half convolutions of the strand around itself in'ithe :annular grooyetherepf, flA

portion of the strand extends from one to the other of the magnets after each winding operation which unused portion of strand may be severed by a pair of heated knife blades mounted for movement into engagement with the strand. After the unused portion of the strand is severed and removed the sealed magnet is removed from the spindle and an unsealed magnet applied thereto.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description thereof con sidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus for applying tacky strand material to annular articles;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with two articles thereon after a winding operation;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the apparatus with two articles thereon before a winding operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the apparatus and the articles in an intermediate position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a vertical axial sectional view through the mechanism for adjustably supporting the supply reel;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the spindles with an article to be sealed in position thereon;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2; and 7 Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are horizontal cross-sectional views taken on the lines 99, Ill-l0, and

H-H, respectively of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig.; 7 an annular composite magnet l5 comprising a pair of annular metal rings l6 and I1 each having an angular or L shaped cross-section with the transversely extending flanges thereof welded to' each other. An annular groove [8 is formed by portions of the component rings [6 and I1, .and it is desirable to wind a sealing element in the form of several convolutions of strand 20 impregnated and coated with a sticky compound for sealing the groove.

A supply of the strand 20 is wound on a reel 525 which is rotatably supported in a device gen- .erally indicated 26 for vertically adjusting the reel to permit the free end of the strand 20 to be withdrawnfromthe supply under tension in a horizontal plane at a predetermined level. The free end of the strand is pressed against and adheres to the groove portion I8 of a magnet 55 mounted on one of a pair of article supporting spindles -30 rotatably mounted on a rotatable disc or member 3 I.

The spindles 30 are provided withheads 33 having annular seats formed thereon by up wardly extending portions 36 for supporting the annular magnets I5 at a predetermined elevation. A pin extending upwardly from each of the heads 33 is engageable in an aperture 39 in the magnet l5 to hold the magnet against rotation relative to the spindle. The disc 3| "is adapted to be rotated about an axis midway be! tween the spindles 30 and has a shaft 40 extending downwardly therefrom which is rotatably supported in bearings 4I-4l which in turn are mounted in a tubular member 42 fixed to or formed as part of a horizontal supporting plate '43. The spindles 30 are rotatably mounted in apertured bearing bosses 44 extending down.- wardly from the disc 3| and have gears 45 fixed toktheir lower ends which mesh with gears .46 fixed to shafts 11 which are also rotatably supported in apertures in the bosses 44 (Fig. 5). The gears 45 mesh with an internal ring gear 49 mounted on the plate 43 within a cylindrical housing member 53 which extends upwardly from the plate 43 and encloses the gearing and the disc 3|. The gearing is arranged so that as the spindle carrying disc 3| is revolved 180 the spindles 30 and the annular magnets 15 thereon are caused to rotate about their respective axes through predetermined arcuate distances, preferably two and one-half or more rotations.

Drive mechanism 55 is provided to index the disc 3| through 180 and cause the free end of strand 20 which is adhered to a first magnet on a spindle to be wound around the first magnetthrough two and one-half complete convolutions and to cause the second magnet on the other spindle to be moved through an are into engagement with an intermediate portion of the strand which is horizontally aligned with and will engage the magnet in the groove portion I8 thereof.

The drive mechanism 55 comprises a ratchet disc 51 which is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 40 on the disc 5| and has ring or flange 58 extending downwardly therefrom which has a pair of recesses forming teeth or abutments 59. The teeth 59 are adapted to be engaged by a driving pawl 69 in the form of a bell crank pivotally mounted at 52 on disc 54 and having an arm 55 to which is connected a spring 96 for urging the driving pawl 60 outwardly into .en- 'gagement with the teeth 59 on the disc 51. The disc 64 is secured to the top end of a tu ular cam member I i which is mounted for oscillation in bearings TIE-II in a pair of walls 12-01 a U.- shaped box-like frame member '14 extending downwardly from and secured to the supporting plate 43. A cam slot I5 is formed in the tubular member I0 for receiving a cam roller "I8 which is rotatably mounted on a slide block or member in anti-friction bearings 8|. The slide block 30 is guided for vertical movement between a pair of rails 83-983 forming a guideway for guiding the block 90 and the cam roller "I8 forfvertical movement.

.. A cap screw 85 passing through an -aperture *in the roller I9 secures the slide block 80 and *the roller I8 to a cylindrical member'8l having a threaded recess at its lower end for threadedly receiving the upper end of the piston rod 89 or a fluid motor 90. The piston rod 89 at its lower end is secured to a piston 92 reciprocable within the cylinder 93 of the fluid motor. A threaded sleeve 94 extending upwardly from the fluid motor passes through an aperture in a wall 95 of the frame member I4 and is engaged by a pair of lock nuts 96 for securing the fluid motor to the frame member I4. Compressed air or other fluid under control of manually operated valves (not shown) is passed through pipe lines 98 -99119 opposite ends of the cylinder 93 to cause the reciprocation of the piston 92 and the roller. 18. The spiral cam groove I6 and the vertical traverse of the cam roller I8 are such as to impart an oscillation of 180 to the tubular cam member I9 for each a reciprocation of the piston to impart intermittent rotation through 180 to the disc 3| and the spindles 30 and also to efiect the rotation of each spindle through two and one-h lf revolutions for eac in xin movement of the disc .3 I.

In rder t prevent the overdrive .oi the disc 3| a rod I00 is provided having a tapered end which is adapted to be moved into engagement with one of a pair of recesses IOI in the ratchet disc 51 when the piston 92 is moved upwardly. At its lower end the rod 100 is :pivotally connected to a lever I03 supported at I04 on the wall and having its free end I05 engageable with the lower end of the member 81 on the pieton rod 39. A spring I0'I urges the rod I00 upwardly so that as the-roller I8 is moved upward- 1y to oscillate the cam member 'I0 to cause the a n o he rat het disc 15 and th spi dl carrying dis 3|, the end o the rod I00 W111 be moved into engagement with the lower face of th flange 58 onth ratchet dis 5 and enter one of the pair of recesses 10] therein at t end of the upward-stroke of theroller 18 to prevent the overtra-vel of the disc 5"! and to stop the spindl s in predetermined posit on r st t ons indica ed A and .B .(Fies, 12 and p.

The device 26 for supporting the supply reel 25 comprises a block. H0 secured to the pl te 4 and provided with a circular aperture H2 (Fig. 6) for receiving a cylindricai member II3 therein. A flange H4 on the member II3 engageable with one side of the block H0 and a lever H5 secured to the block '3 bye, screw Ill and engageable with the other side of block serves to prevent axial displacement of the member H3 and to frictionally-retainthe member 3 in adjusted angular position in the block I I9. A bore I20 is formedi-n the members H3 and I I5 in eccentric relation to the axis of the member II3 for rotatably receiving a rod |2I therein on which the supply reel 25 isadapted to be mounted. A hand nut I23 threadedly engaging one end of the rod I2I is adapted to lock the reel :25 against a collar I24 pinned to the-rod |2| for removab'l-y securing the reel in position thereon.

The reel 25 and the rod IZI are adapted to be yieldably and frictionally held against rotation by an adjustable tensioning device for varying the tension of the strand as'it is withdrawn from the supply reel. The-tension device comprises a spring I26 interposed between adjustable lock nuts I21 and a collar I29 which bears against a disc I30 of friction material interposed between the collar I29 and the lever H5. The spring I26 'servesto stress the rod 2I-axially and urgev the Ico'l'lar I24 against the eccentric member II3 to 'yie'ldab'ly resist the rotation of the rod I2I and i the strand supply reel 25 thereon.

By moving the lever 5 the eccentric member 3 may be rotated to raise the reel'25 and adjust the level of the portion of the strand being withdrawn from the reel so as to maintain it substantially in a horizontal plane in alignment with the grooves I8 of the annular magnets l5 on the spindles 30. A pointer I32 on the lever H5 cooperates with calibrations I33 on a dial I34 mounted on the block H to indicate the vertical position of the reel 25.

The apparatus may be supported in any suitable manner. As illustrated herein the device is shown as attached to a table or bench 'I35 by angle iron brackets I36 secured to the under side of the table I35 and to the frame member 1-4.-

In the operation of the device a pair of annular magnets I are applied to the spindles 30 and the free end of the strand 22 is pressed into the groove I8 of the first magnet I5 in position A as shown in Fig. 3. The fluid motor 90 is then actuated to index the spindle carrying disc 3I and cause the first magnet to be revolved into position B and the second magnet to be revolved into position A. As the first magnet moves from position A to position B it is rotated and causes two and one-half convolutions of strand 20 to be wound therearound and as the second magnet revolves from position B to position A it moves into engagement with the intermediate horizontally disposed portion of the strand (Fig. 4) which engages the magnet in the groove portion I8 thereof. The two magnets then occupy the position shown in Fig. 2 with two and onehalf convolutions of the sealing strand being wrapped around the magnet on the spindle in position B and with a straight disposable portion I31 of strand extending between the peripheries of the two magnets.

Means are provided for severing the straight portion I31 of the strand at points I38 (Fig. 2) which comprises a pair of knife blades I40 fixed to the underneath side of a metal bar I42 which is mounted on the core I43 of an electrical heating unit I44. The heating unit I44 is fixed to a cross member I46 pivotally mounted in pins I41 for oscillatable movement in a pair of posts I48 secured to the plate 42. A lever I50 secured to the cross member I46 is provided to move the heated cutters I40 from their normal up position shown in Fig. 5 to a lower operative position in engagement with the portion I31 of the strand at points I38I38 for severing the strand as previously stated. A spring I52 connected to one end of a rod I45 on the member I46 yieldably retains the cutters I40 in their upper position and a stop member I53 mounted on therod I 45 engages the post I52 and serves to limitth upward movement of the cutters. 1

Thus, when annular magnet I5 has been wound with two and one-half convolutions of the coated strand and has arrived at position B as shown in Fig. 2 the operator actuates the heated cutters I 40 to sever the straight portion I 31 of the strand at points I38 which portion I31 may then be disposed of. The magnet I5 with the strand of sealing compound wound thereon may then be removed from the spindle 30 and an unsealed magnet applied thereto after which the operator may actuate the fluid motor to initiate another 3 cycle of operation. I

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and 'fall' within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for winding sticky strand onto articles comprising a member rotatable about a predetermined axis, a plurality of spindles mounted on said member for rotation about axes disposed parallel to, equi-distant from, and equi-angularly about said predetermined axis and having seats for supporting said articles, means for supporting a supply of said sticky strand in a position to permit the strand to extend from said supply directly to an article on one of said spindles and be adhered to said article and to permit the withdrawal of said strand in the path of movement of said articles, means for indexing said member through a predetermined arcuate distance, and gearing means including a stationary gear for rotating said spindles and the articles thereon through a predetermined arcuate distance about the axes of said spindles in response to the indexing movement of said member for wrapping several convolutions of said strand about one of said articles and for moving another article into engagement with said strand.

2. A device for winding sticky strand onto articles comprising a member rotatable about a predetermined axis, a plurality of spindles mounted on said member for rotation about axes disposed substantially parallel to, equi-distant from, and equi-angularly about said predetermined axis and having holders for supporting 'said articles, means for supporting a supply of said sticky strand in a position for movement of the strand directly from said supply to be adhered to an article on one of said spindles and into adhering engagement therewith and to permit the withdrawal of said strand in the path of movement of said articles, means for indexing said member through a predetermined arcuate distance, gearing means including a stationary gear for rotating said spindles and the articles thereon about the axes of said spindles in response to the indexing of said member for wrapping said strand about one of said articles and for moving another article into engagement with said strand, means for adjusting said supporting means to position the {strand withdrawn from said supply substantially in a plane perpendicular to said predetermined axis for engaging the articles in a predetermined position thereon, and means for severing th portion of said strand extending between said" articles.

3. A device for winding sticky strand onto articles comprising a member rotatable about a predetermined axis, a plurality of spindles mounted on said member at predetermined stations for rotation about axes disposed substantially parallel to, equi-distant from, and equiangularly about said predetermined axis and having seats for supporting said articles, means for rotatablysupporting a supply reel of said sticky strand for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said axes and in a position to permit the free end thereof to be adhered to an article on one of said spindles and to permit the withdrawal of said strand in the path of movement of said articles and'substantially along a plane passing through-a predetermined portion of said articles, drive means for indexing said member to advance said spindles and articles thereon from one station: to .the next station, means for rotating said spindles and the articles thereon through a predetermined arcuate distance about the axes of said spindles simultaneously with the indexing of said member for wraps a-pr deter n le th ofi e dis nd; et one of said articles and ion movinganoth er ar.-v ticle into engagement with saidstran'eLand means for adjusting the means-forsupporting the reel to maintain the portion-ofthe strand being withdrawn fromthe reel in substantial alignment with said plane. Y I

i. A devicefor winding sticky strand onto ar ticles comprising a pair of rotatable article holders, a member for supporting said article holders for rotation about parallel axes in spaced relation to each other, means mountingsaid member for rotation about a predeterminedaxis between and parallel to the axes of said-holders; means for indexing said member to advance said article 5 holders and articles thereon through a predetermined arouate distance, gearing meansincluding a stationary gear for rotating said article holders and the articles thereon aboutthe axes of said holders through a predetermined arcuate distance in response to the indexing of said member, means for supporting a supply/of said sticky strand in a predetermined relationto said article holders to permit the strand to extenddirectly from the supply and be adhered to an article on one of said holders and the strand to be advanced-in the path of movement of and engaged by the articles on said holders whereby in response to the indexing of said member the article on one of said holders is rotated to wind a predetermined length of said strand thereon and the article on the other holder is moved into adhering engage ment With a portion of said strand, and means for adjusting the supporting means to vary 1 the position of said supply for guiding said strand for movement substantially in a plane perpendicular to said predetermined axis andin a pre" determined position axially of ,said holders to engage the articles thereon at a predetermined point. I n a 5. A device for winding sticky strand onto articles comprising a pair of rotatable article hdld? ers, a member for supporting said article'holders for rotation about parallel axes in spaced relation to each other, means mounting saidmember for rotation about a predetermined axis midwayibe- 4o tween and parallel to the axesor-saidholders, means for indexing said member to advance said article holders and articles thereonithrough a predetermined arcuate distanca; gearing means including a stationary gear for 1" t ting said ar ticle holders'andthe articles thei abo t e axes of said holders'throug'h al predeter'mmcd arcuate distance in response-to the .indexingio'f said member, means for supporting .areel supply of said sticky strandior rotation aboutan' axis in a plane perpendicular'to said predetermined axis and in a predetermined relationto saidfiar' ticle holders to permit the strand to extenddi' rectly from said reel and be adheredto an article on. one of said holders a1 1d ;the strand-330' .be ad? vanced in the path of movement -of.,and'len'gaged by the articles on-said: holders whereby in; response to the indexing fsaidmember the -artie cle on one of said holders is rotatedtog windta predetermined length of said strandthereon and the article on the other holder ismoved into ad hering engagementwith a portion; of saidstrand, andi cutters forsimultaneously cutting the strand at spaced points to sever the portion-oi s strand extending between said articles 6. A device :ior .winding;.s nd c oated 1t h tackycompound :onto articles comprising-assets ber rotatable about :a "predetermined -axis a pair of spindles mounted'on-said-member for rotation about axes disposed pariallelto; equid stant @932:

and equi-ang-ularly, about said predetermined. axis and having seats for-supporting said articles, meansfor supporting a supply of said sticky strand in a position to permit the strand to extend directly from the supply onto an article on one of said spindles and be adhered thereto and to permit the withdrawalof said strand in the path of movement of said articles, means for indexing said member to move said spindles and articles thereon through a predetermined arouate distance, gearing means including a stationary ring gear for rotating said spindles and the articles thereon about the axes of said spindles in response to the indexing movement of said member for wrapping a predetermined length of said strand about one of said articles and for moving another article into engagement with said strand, and means for adjusting said supporting means tomaintain the strand being Withdrawn from said supply substantially in a plane perpendicular to said predetermined axis for engagement with a predetermined portion of said articles.

7. A device for Winding strand coated with tacky compound onto articles comprising a member rotatable about a predetermined axis, a pair of spindles mounted on said member for rotation about axes disposed parallel to, equi-distant from, and equi-angularly about said predetermined axis and having seats for supporting said articles, means for supporting a supply of said sticky strand in a position to permit the strand to extend from said supply directly to an article on one of said spindles and'be adhered thereto and to permit the withdrawal of said strand in the path of movement of said articles, means for indexing said member to move said spindles and articles thereon through a predetermined arouate distance, gearing means including a stationary gear for rotating said spindles and the articles thereon about the axes of said spindles in response to the indexing movement of said memberfor; wrapping said strand about oneoi said articles and for moving another article into engagement with said strand, a pair of knives, and means mounting said knives for movement into engagement with said strand for severing the portion of said strandextending between said articles.

8.-A device for winding strand coated with a tacli y compound onto annular parts comprising apair of spindles having-seats thereon for supporting apair ofsaid parts, rotatable supporting means mounting said spindles for rotation about their axes and for movement about a predeterminedaxis between the axes oisaid spindles, means for rotating said spindles about their axes in response to rotation of said supporting means, means -for indexing said supporting means through to move the parts on said spindles through a predetermined path from-a first position to a second positionand from said second positionto'said first position, respectively, means felf supporting av reel containing a supply of said coated strand for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said axes to permit the free end thereof to be withdrawn from the reel in substantial alignment with a-predetermined plane passing through a. predetermined portion of the parts carried by said spindles whereby a portion of said strand having itsend adhered to cnejpart on one spindle is ;vvoundonto -said part and another portion ofsaid thread is guided into adhering engagement with the other part on the other spindle in est re t9, ied x rsflomiirementpi id upporting member, and means for adjusting said reel supporting means to maintain the strand Withdrawn therefrom substantially in alignment with said plane. Y

9. A device for winding strand coated with a tacky compound onto annular parts comprising a pair of spindles having seats thereon for supporting a pair of said parts, rotatable supporting means mounting said spindles for rotation about their axes and for movement about a predetermined axis midway between the axes of said spindles, means for rotating said spindles about their axes in response to rotation of said supporting means, means for indexing said supporting means through 130 to move the parts on said spindles through a predetermined path from a first position to a second position and from said second po sition to said first position, respectively, means for supporting a reel containing a supply of said coated strand to permit the free end thereof to be withdrawn from the reel in substantial alignment'with a predetermined plane passing through a predetermined portion of the parts carried by said spindles whereby a portion of said strand having its end adhered to one part on one spindle is wound onto said part and another portion of said thread is guided into adhering engagement with the other part on the other spindle in response to an indexing movement of said supporting member, means for adjusting said reel supporting means to maintain the strand withdrawn therefrom substantially in alignment with said plane, a

ber for rotation about a predetermined axis midway between and parallel to the axes of said holders, means for. indexing said member to advance said article holders and articles thereon from one stationto the next, means including a stationary ring gear andgears on said spindles Y the path of movement of and engaged by the articles on said holders and insubstantial alignment with a plane passing through a predetermined portion of said articles whereby in response to the indexing of said member the article on one of said holders is rotated to wind a predetermined length of said strand thereon and the article on the other holder is moved into adhering engagement with a portion of said strand, and means for oscillating said eccentric member to adjust the pair of knives, means for heating said knives, and 7 means mounting said knives for movement through a predetermined path to sever the portion of the strand extending between said parts.

10. A device for Winding strand coated with tacky compound onto articles comprising a pair of rotatable article holders, a member for supporting said article holders at predetermined stations and for rotation about parallel axes in spaced relation to each other, means mounting said memposition of said reel to maintain the strand Withdrawn therefrom substantially in alignment with said plane.

CECIL C. MCCAIN.

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